William f



Jan; 10, 1928.

W. F. HENDRY FLASHLIGHT Filed Jan. e, 1925 l l l I I l l I I I I l I I I l I I l .J

z, z; ATTORNEY k Patented darn it 192%? nnirnn STATES resets PATENT OFFICE.

TO NATIUNAL Gl'jlttl.

ITEW YUBK.

. [Lppieeticn filed January This invention relates to i and more particularly to circuit (it ntrol sw ches adapted for mounting on flashlights or hand lamps.

The object of the present invention is to provide a flashlight in which the switch may be readily mounted on the crising without the use of rivets, screwsor the like, permitting thus easy ren'iovril and repair of the switch parts. i

l Vith this object in View, I provide the movable part oi the switch in the form of a plui'iger which cooperates with a resilient contact through which the lamp circuit may he completed The plunger is mounted in a housing whicl carried by, but is readily removable from, the flashlight casing.

In addition to these features, the invention has to do with. the 1 anner in which the resilient contact is held in place and other features of the flashlight assembly which will more clearly appear from the :lollowing detailed description oi a preferred einhodiinent thereof and the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. l. is u vcrticul C'i.(')ssection of a flashlight casing and switch constructed in accordance with the present invention; 2 is a side elevation oi the flashlightczising; Fig. 3 illustrates in perspective that part of the flashlight casing); which carries the switch housii'ig'; and Figs. 4: and 5 are perspective views of parts oi the flashlight assembly The tlas'ihlight itself is of the well-ln' own construction in which three dry cells 1 are provided one ahove the other witl'rin a tuhular metallic casing 52. The nine contuiner electrodes oil the dry cells are wrapped in paper 3 or other insulatio materiel to prevent contact with the resin but the hot toms of such zine electrodc "e exposed, thus making possihle contact 1 tween the zinc electrode of one cell and the carbon electrode l; oi? the lower cell. The bottom of the lowermost cell 1 in clecxicul contact with the casing 2 through it coiled spring 5 held in it screw cap (3 which fits over the lower end of the casing 2, The carbon electriiide 4t ot' the top cell 1 contacts with :1 terminal pro vided in the insulated base 7 of asinell incandescent lamp 8, the other terminal of said lamp being, in the well-lmown manner, conrmcted with the shell 9 which screws into a suitable opening of a metallic rcl'lcctor ll FLASH 01E lll'hl'ili 'YQRK, "2., A CORPORATION OF LIGHT.

G, 15225. Serial No. 814;.

The edge 11 of the metallic reflector rests on a ring 12 of insulating material. This ring is within the upper screw-threaded end 18 of the casing 2 and the lower edge of the ring is seated in a groove 1 1- provided in the casing just below the scrcw-threadcd part 13.

The upper portion oi? the casing 2 is flared as indicated at 15, and between the iii-tiring portion 15 and the tubular portion of the casing a groove 16 is pro .ided. Between the upper end of the tubular casing 2 and the cell 1 a flexible sheet or cylinder or sleeve of insulating material 1? is provided. The upper edge of this insulating material protrudes within the cavity formed by the liaring portion 15 and the lower edge extends slightly below the top of the second cell. A leaf spring or conductor 18 is riveted at 19 an d 20 to the cylindrical insulating sleeve 1 The rivet 15) is located near the upper protruding edge out the sleeve 17 and theretore within the flaring portion oi? the casing and the rivet 20 near the lower edge of the sleeve opposite an opening 21 in the casing. 'llhiis both rivets are out of contact with the casing 2, the spring. 18 being insulated from the zinc container electrodes of the cells by means ol the paper wrappers The upper end 22 of spring 18 is bent and contacts with the reflector 10. The lower end of the spring 18 is provided with a hump 23 which pro 'ccts within an opening il -l provided in the casing just helow the opening 21. The insulilting sleeve 17 is held in place by means of a wire ring; 2-5 which lies within the groove 16. This ring has two projections 26 and 2 which, when surrounding the sleeve 1'7, lie within notches 28 and 22) cut in the sleeve 17. One end oi the'spring is bent back, as indicated at 30., and when the ring in place the end 30 lies within an opening 31 in the'czising 6.

Those portions of the casing which have been cut away to form the openings 21 and 914i: are bent up at right angles and term care 32, 33 and 34h Similarly, an (iltl 35 is turned up 'at right angles. The car 32 is perforated at 36 and e groove 39 is TOITI'IlQtl in the car 35. Lugs 37 end 38 project troin cars 33 and Fi l. A. heavyend rigid rodor Wire bent into a shape having two legs or plungers ll) and t1 which are in suhstalr tiully the same plane, and a knob l2, is used plungers. The plunger as well as the turnedup portions illustrated in Fig. 3 are enclosed wlthin an oblong housing provided with a slot 46 through which the neek portion 44 of the plungers project with the knob 42 on 'tOp of the. housing 45. 'lwo-apertures are provided in the side walls of the housing 45 and are adapted to be engagedby the lugs 37 and 38 projeetingin opposite directions from the cars 33 and 34, thus atlording a means for holding the housing 45 firmly in place on the casing 2.

The up-per end of the plunger 40 is bent into a rigid elbow 48 which slightly projects within the opening 24 and lies in the path at the turned-up resilient end 23 of spring 18. hen, therefore, the plunger is pushed by means of knob 42 against the tension of coiled spring 43, the elbow 48 will engage spring 18 at23, establishing thus an electrical circuit for lampS from the carbon electrode 4 or the dry cell through 7, lamp 8, sleeve 9, reflector l0, spring 18, the turnedupend 23 of the spring, elbow 48, plunger 40, ear 35, easing 2, spring 5 and then to the zinc electrode of the lowermost dry cell. When the knob 42 is released the spring will return the plunger 40-41 to normal position. If, however, the knob 42 is pushed up far enough for the elbow 48 to pass beyond the contact end 23 then, owing tothe resiliency of spring 18, the plunger 40-4l will beheld in this advanced position and the circuit thus maintained closed until the operator brings the knob 42 back to normal or into a position where the elbow 48 passes below the uppermost portion of spring end 23. Obviously, other forms of plunger than v the one herein illustrated may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention;

In assembling the flashlight, first, the sleeve 17 is inserted in place with the ring 25 holding it in position. Then the insulating ring .12 is placed-within the screw threaded flange 13 of the casing and the reflector 10 with the lamp 8 in place is seated on this ring. The reflector is held down by means of a glass lens 50, which in turn is clamped to the casing by means of a ring 51,

a screw-threaded flange 52 of which engages the screw-threaded end 13 of the casing.

The dry cells 1 are put within the casing and held in position by means of spring 5 and cap 6. V The plunger 4()-41. is then insorted through the slot 46 within the housing 45. The upper end of the leg 41 is pushed through the hole and the housing iorced down until the lugs 37, 3S snap witln in the apertures in the walls of the housing.

When it is desired to repair or replace parts of the circuit-controlling mechanism, which are the most vulnerable parts ol. :1. flashlight, it is not necessary to break oll' any rivets with the attendant difliculties oi replacement. By means of a suitable tool the two lugs38 and 37 may l e pushed. in, whereupon the housing with the plunger may be removed. Similarly, if the spring 18 breaks or needs adjustment, it may be readily pulled out by pushing in the end 30 of" the wire 25 and then pulling out the whole sleeve 1? with the spring attached to it. It should be noted also that the width of the housing enclosing the switch substantially the same as the flutings provided on the casing 2, enhancing thus the appearance of the structure.

What I claim is:

t. In a flashligl'it, a metallic wasing, a. dry battery within said casing, an incaiulcsmint bulb having one of its terminals connected with one pole of the battery, :1 piece ot in sulation between said battery and said casing, resilient means for holding said insulation stationary in said casing but removable theretrom, a. conductor connected with theother terminal of said bulb and fastened, to said insulation, and a movable contact member connected with said casing and cooperating with said conductor.

2. In a flashlight, a metallic casing, a dry battery within said casing, an insulating jacket for said battery, an incandescent bulb having one of its terminals connected with one pole of the battery, a connection be tween the other pole of said battery and said casing, a. sleeve ol insulating material between said insulating jacket and said casing, a ring of resilient material 'l'or holding said sleeve stationary in said casing, a. conductor connected with the other terminal of said bulb and held between said jacket and sleeve, and a movable contact nicmbcr cooperating with said conductor.

3. In a flashlight, a metallic casing, a dry battery within said casing. an insulating: jacket for said battery, an incaiulcsccnt bulb having one of its terminals connected with one pole of the battery. .1 (minor-lion bctwecn the other pole oil said battery and said casing, a sleeve oi insulating material removably mounted between said insulating jacket and said casing, means for holding said sleeve stationary in said casing, a lea l spring riveted to said sleeve and connected with the other terminal of said bulb, and a movable rigid'contact member coo' jierating with a free resilientend oi said leaf spring.

4. In a flashlight, a metallic casing, a dry battery within said casing, an insulating til) said casin in said casing, a conductor coniiected with.

the other terminal otsaid bulb fastened to said sleeve, and amovable contact member cooperating with said conductor,

5. in a l'lashlight, a metallic easing hav" ing an opening intermediate its ends, a bell shaped head for said casing, a drybattery within said casing, an insulating jacket lor said battery,a metallic reflector moul'ited in said head and insulated therefrom, an incandescent bulb carried by said reflector and having one of its terminals connected with one pole of the battery, it coiiinection between the other pole of said battery and a sleeve of insulating material between said insulating jacket and said casing, said sleeve extending from said opening to a point within said head, a leaf spring); with one'end engaging said retlectorand with the other end projecting within said opening, two rivets tor fastening said spring to the inside surface ot said sleeve, one o'l said rivets being within said opening and the other within said head, an annular groove in said, casing near said head, a. resilient wire in said groove, projections on said wire engaging corresponding openings in said sleeve, a projection on said Wire engaging a hole in said casing, and a movable rigid contact member fastened to said casing and cooperating with said other end of said leaf spring.

h. in a flashlight, a case, a dry battery within said case, an incimdescent electric lamp, a connection between one pole ot said battery and one terminal oi? said lamp, a. metallic spring one end of which is connected to the other terininal of said lamp and the other end of which is tree and re silient, a housing attached to said case, a

spring-pressed plunger within said housing, a connection between said ilunger' and the other pole of said buttery, a projection on said plunger lying in the path of said free end of the spring, and means operable outside oil the housing tor moving said plunger agaii'ist spring tension.

7. lo a flashlight, a metallic case, a dry battery within said, case, a connection belIWGCH one pole oi? said battery and said case, an electric lamp, a connection between the other pole of said battery and one terminal of said lamp, a. metallic reflector withii'i said use and electrically coi'inected with the other terminal of said lamp, insulation be tween said reflector and said easc,a metallic spring one end of which is contacting with said reflector and the other end. oil which tree and resilient, a housing attached to so case, a spring pressed plunger within an housing, a projection onsaid plunger i, in the path of said free end ol? the spring, and means operable outside of the housing for moving said plunger against spring tension. j

8. In a flashlight, ametallic casing, a dry battery within said casing, a connection between one pole of said battery and .aidcasing, an electric lamp, a connection between the other pole of said battery and one terminal of said lamp, a n1 :tallic spring one end of which is connected to the other terminal of said lamp and the other end ol': which is free and resilient, two cars strucltv up from the casing, said ears being provided with projections, a housing covering said ears being provided with recesses cooperating with said projections, a spring-presscd plunger within said housing, a projection on said plunger lying in the path of said. free end out the spring, and means operable outside of the housing for moving said phinger against spring tension.

9. In a flashlight, a metallic casing, a dr battery within said casing, a connection tween one pole of said battery and said casing, an electric lamp, a connection bet vceu the other pole of said battery and one (51 ininal or" said lamp, a metallic spring one end of which "s connected to the other terminal of said lamp and the other end of which is tree and resilient, tour ears struck up troni said casing, a housing covering said ears and held in position by a pair of cars, a spring-pressed plunger mounted on the other pair of cars, a projection on said plunger lying in an opening of the cz'ising a'llorded by the ears and in the path of said .l'ree end of the illjl'jll'lg, and "means operable outside of the hoiuiing for moving said plunger against sprii'ig tension.

1.0. in a llashligl'it, a, casing, a dry lnittcry within. said casing, an cle ,:lrie lamp connccted with said battery, a conductor connected with said lamp, a movable switch member cooperating with .aid conductor and connected with said battery, a housing having recesses in the sides thereof enclosing said movable member, and resilient means integral with said casing having projections ei'igaging with said recesses to hold said housing against said casing.

11. In a flashlight, a metallic casing, a dry battery within said casing, an electric lamp connected with said battery, a conductor connected with said lamp and ii'isulated from said casing, a movable switch nien'iber cooperating with said conductor, a metallic housing enclosing said movable member and resilient ears struck up from the casing ti ltion, an electric incandescent lamp,

exerting pressure on opposite Wa housing to hold said housing ag casing. f

-12. In a flashlight, a'casing having a inhular and a daring portion, a source of curr supply provided within said tubular poi a sleeve of'insul'ating material projecting Within saidtlaring portion and extending part Way Within said tubular portion, a leaf spring fastened to the insioe of said :iiieel with one end in contact with said reflector, a spring-pressed plunger mounted on said casing, aprojeetion on said plunger in an opening 0-1 said casing, a nose at the lower end of said leaf spring. projecting within said opening into the path of said projecfand a circuit for said lamp controlled by said plunger and. leaf spring.

7 13. In a flashlight, a metallic casing having an aperture in the side thereof, a resiloifsaid said ient member Within the casing and insulated therefrom, a projection on said resilient: member opposite said aperture, an upwardly extending perforated car near one end ot the aperture, an upwardly extending notched ear near the other end of the aperture, resilient cars at the sides of the aperture provided with projections thereon, a switch member slidable through said perforation and resting in said notch and. having a portion extending; within said casing for engagement with the projection on the resilient member, and a housing having rccesses in the sides thereof for engagement with the projections on the resilient ears. said housing cooperating with mid notched ear to hold the slidahle member in position.

In testimony whercot l have signed my name to this specification this 29th day of December, 1924i.

VJILLIAlil F. HIQNDRY. 

